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NEWS
Beware of Yichud in X-ray Rooms
We have been asked to alert the public to the serious
stumbling block in terms of yichud during x-raying or
CT scanning, and similar procedures, since Health Ministry
regulations require the doors of the x-ray room to close and
lock automatically. According to Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom
Eliashiv, HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner and HaRav Nissim
Karelitz, shlita, this clearly violates the
prohibition against yichud. Therefore, when there is
no way to arrange for a female technician to take x-rays for
women or a male technician to take x-rays for men, one must
enter the room accompanied by a shomer able to save
the person being x-rayed from the prohibition of
yichud. (The accompanyer should stand behind the
protective screen or wear a lead vest, which experts say
makes the level of radiation insignificant, except in the
case of pregnant women.)
Even in cases where there is an additional door for the staff
(which generally remains unlocked) maranan shlita hold
this is insufficient since they do not enter at all due to
the danger of radiation, and medical staff members are
particularly cautious since they are exposed to this danger
on a daily basis.
However in many hospitals and other facilities where staff
members can enter without risk and do enter, generally no
prohibition of yichud applies. (Numerous details apply
in such cases and vary from one facility to the next and even
from one shift to the next, but this is not the place to
expand on the topic.)
(signed)
Sariel Rosenberg, Av Beis Din of HaRav Nissim Karelitz'
beis din
Tzvi Avrohom Vale, author of Pesach Habayis --
Yichud
Chagai Eliashiv Na'eh, author of Shaar Hayichud
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